online-only
/ˌɒnlaɪn ˈoʊnli/
CommonA game that requires a constant internet connection to play, even for solo content.
Almost always said with frustration. Implies the developer made a choice that disadvantages players for non-gameplay reasons, like anti-piracy or live-service monetization.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | just found out it's online-only. refunding | The internet requirement was a dealbreaker and the speaker is returning the game. | reddit, 2024 |
| 02 | why is this single player game online-only. who asked for this | Confused and frustrated that a solo game still requires an internet connection. | x, 2024 |
| 03 | i travel a lot so online-only games are basically unplayable for me | The always-on internet requirement makes the game inaccessible in the speaker's situation. | reddit, 2023 |
| 04 | online-only single player is genuinely one of the worst things publishers do | Strongly critical of the industry practice of requiring connectivity for solo games. | x, 2023 |
Use it when
- A game requires internet to play even its single-player content.
- Warning others before they buy a game that has this requirement.
- Criticizing a developer's decision to require a connection for offline-style content.
Do not use it when
- The game is an inherently multiplayer experience like an MMO.
- You mean local multiplayer specifically.Use “local multiplayer” instead.
Online-only vs always-online
online-only
Online-only describes the game design restriction as a feature category.
VS
always-online
Always-online emphasizes the continuous, uninterruptible nature of the connection requirement.
Origin and context
Became a common criticism term as publishers began requiring internet connections for single-player games in the early 2010s, often tied to DRM systems and live-service monetization.
- First seen
- early-2010s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/online-onlyUpdated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0